PR860 issued 17 January 2013

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French Prohibition Kit Wins Copper and the Home 2012

First prize in the international Copper and the Home 2012 design competition has been awarded to Francesco Morackini of France for his project: Prohibition Kit. The jurys unanimous decision was based on the graphical care of Francescos design for an alcohol distillery disguised as a collection of everyday objects a playful reference to the Prohibition Era, when alcohol was banned. The presentation of prizes was made at a ceremony earlier this week at the Triennale Design Museum in Milan. Designers were called upon to reinvent everyday objects with copper, celebrating and exploiting the aesthetic and technical strengths of the metal and its alloys in the fourth Copper and the Home competition, organised by the Italian Copper Institute. Architects, designers and students of the arts were inspired by copper and alloys such as bronze and brass, resulting in more than 270 submissions into the Professional and Student categories. This is more than triple the number of entries received for the first competition back in 2007. Thanks to its instantly-recognisable beauty and extraordinary versatility, copper offers a wide range of manufacturing possibilities and applications including decorative lighting, vases and mirrors, door furniture, interior decoration and dividing walls, floors and radiators. In addition to the commonlyknown and valued properties such as electrical and thermal conductivity, malleability, ductility and durability, copper is also antimicrobial, meaning it rapidly eliminates bacteria, viruses and fungi on contact. This new awareness of a property inherent to the metal offers designers an opportunity to enhance hygiene around the home as well as in public spaces and hospitals, where infections can spread rapidly. Michal Jan Holcer winner of the Student Category, studying at the Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow, Poland exploited coppers antimicrobial efficacy for his winning project: B-side. His tap, designed for communal use, dispenses soap as well as water, with a design that minimises the hand contact required for operation. A jury consisting of experts in the design field (Luisa Bocchietto, architect and President of the Association for Industrial Design, Odoardo Fioravanti, industrial designer, and Marco Romanelli, architect and design critic) selected a shortlist of winning and highly-commended projects, which are th on display at the Triennale Design Museum in Milan until 27 January.

Winning Entries: Professional Category

First Prize was awarded to Francesco Morackini of France for his Prohibition Kit. An alcohol still is playfully disguised as a pot, a fondue stove and a fruit bowl. Copper offers a connection between the different elements, being a familiar material for both the camouflage objects and alcohol stills. The result is an item that winningly combines beauty with functionality.

Second Prize was awarded to Stefania Ruggiero of Italy for her design Pix, a musical hinge. Opening the hinge makes it play a melody, which can be changed by replacing the central cylinder. Brass common to door hinges and musical instruments alike was the copper alloy of choice, combining the excellent machinability needed for intricate elements with elegance and durability.

Architect Ernesto Iadevaia e Lorenzo De Rosa of Italy was Highly Commended for Chiamami Forse: a set of antibacterial bowls for pets. His concept was to create an object that is fun and hygienic at the same time.

Designer Samuel Bernier of Canada was Highly Commended for Joulius: a document holder and laptop platform. Allowing for improved airflow under the laptop and taking advantage of coppers thermal conductivity, the practicality of the design and its aesthetic appeal impressed the judges.

Designer Alberto Fabbian of Italy received a Highly Commended for his Pi o Meno stool. His design is intended to ground static electricity and has a minimalist elegance.

Designer Giacomo Ravagli of Italy was Highly Commended for Star, a chandelier made from three independant and expandable parts. The chandelier projects a constellation onto the ceiling thanks to a diffuser made from copper sheet, stretched and perforated to create a stunning effect when in use.

Designer Geoffrey Destruel of France was Highly Commended for his Tea Set, which he designed as coppers return to the kitchen. Elegantly nostalgic, the white porcelain holds a tea strainer made from copper.

Designer Jan Hrebicek of the Czech Republic was Highly Commended for his Ultimo door handle. Starting with the basis that copper alloys are frequently and optimally used for door furniture, Jan created a graceful, minimalistic handle.

Winning Entries: Student Category

First Prize in the Student Category was awarded to Michal Jan Holcer of the Jan Matejco Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow, Poland for his project, B-side. This communal tap dispensing water and soap is designed to minimise hand contact, and take advantage of coppers antimicrobial properties so that, when it is touched, it will continuously reduce contamination on its surface. The design also includes a copper plughole for added hygiene benefits.

Zsfia Krisztina Srvry e Bence Kovcsik, of Moholgy-Nagy University of Art and Design in Budapest, Hungary was Highly Commended for the design of Hrom, a multifunctional pot. The project seeks to rediscover traditional food containers, combining the hygienic properties of copper with a lid made from cork, balancing ancient and contemporary designs.

Arthur Hoffner, a student of the cole Nationale Suprieure de Cration Industrielle in France, was Highly Commended for his Delta Mirror. Referencing the concept of copper plates capturing sunlight in Ancient Egyptian buildings, this floor mirror is intended to create magical, red light effects in its surroundings.

Karen Ruz Sanchez of the University of Gualajara in Mexico was Highly Commended for Riparo per uccelli: decorations and bird houses for home or urban gardens. The designs suggest stems and hands offering food and shelter for small birds.